THE “bossku” phenomenon has assumed undeserved significance. The fad, which I hope is a passing one, seems to be craving for attention.
To some of its followers, it would seem that there is an alternative authority questioning the Pakatan Harapan administration’s actions and initiatives.
On the contrary, should not the followers of this wave show concern or remorse for what has transpired? Or are they enamoured with an accused person?
Translated loosely as “what is there to be ashamed, boss”, it implies that former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who has been charged with graft, has no reason to be ashamed of anything.
What this implies is that despite Najib being hit with 42 charges, he has been venerated and elevated to the status of a folk hero.
Najib, on his part, is relishing his role as a cult leader.
One can speculate that he has reinvented himself as a leader who champions the cause of the poor and downtrodden.
He also wants to present himself as a campaigner against the imagined marginalisation of Malays and Muslims.
The irony is that other leaders are not saying that society abhors all crimes, including those perpetrated by white collar criminals who subordinate public funds and assets for their private agenda and greed.
To their credit, the rulers of two states have shown their hands in this matter.
In an aborted interview with Al Jazeera, Najib offered an explanation for the cash and luxury items found in his family’s possession. He tried to say that he was planning on handing these goods to a state entity.
As a young officer in the former prime minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein’s administration, I was brought up with the admonition that as a civil servant, proof was not needed to allege corruption, suspicion was bad enough.
With this “bossku” wave, Najib has hijacked the causes of justice, accountability and the wellbeing of the people, the very basis that gave PH traction in garnering support.
It is important that in spite of the “bossku” wave, Najib will
continue to get a fair and full trial.
Datuk M. Santhananaban
Retired ambassador, Kajang, Selangor